ReviewPublic health nutrition2026
Conceptualisation and measurement of child hunger: a rapid review.
Review in Public health nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
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Abstract
objectiveChild hunger is a significant global health concern prioritised by multiple global public health organisations. In 2006, the US Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) highlighted the need for clarity and consistency in the operationalisation and measurement of child hunger. This review examines whether these recommendations have been implemented in child nutrition programming over the past two decades. In addition, we explore how child hunger is currently conceptualised and measured across different contexts.
designWe conducted a pre-registered rapid review of studies that define or measure 'child hunger'. Six electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Social Science Database and ERIC) and websites of twenty public health organisations were searched for reports that mentioned the term 'child hunger' or 'child' near 'hunger' published after 2006.
settingThere were no restrictions on study settings.
participantsStudies focusing on children under the age of 18 years were included.
resultsSixty-seven articles measured child hunger and were therefore eligible for inclusion. Of these, only twenty-three provided a definition of child hunger. Definitions commonly described child hunger as a consequence of or as a subcategory of household 'food insecurity'. Most scales used in the included studies examined the quantity or amount of food intake by children, while few measures also assessed the quality of food consumed. The physiological dimension of hunger was not measured by any of the questionnaires.
conclusionsThe findings underscore the need for more comprehensive and standardised approaches that account for the multidimensional nature of child hunger.
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